Leroy Griffith: key obituary facts
Is Leroy Griffith dead? Yes. Leroy Griffith died on October 3, 2026, at age 94.
Cause of death: Leroy Griffith's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Leroy Griffith known for?
He was an American film producer.
More about Leroy Griffith
Born: 26 March 1932.
Place of birth: Poplar Bluff.
Gender: male.
Occupation: film producer, nightclub owner.
Nationality: United States.
Career began: 1949.
Also known as: Leroy Charles Griffith.
Occupations: Theater and nightclub owner, Broadway and off-Broadway producer, Film producer, Burlesque producer.
Years active: 1949–2024.
Known for: Stage shows (Hello Burlesque, This Was Burlesque, etc.); chief executive officer of Club Madonna.
Leroy Griffith, an American theater and nightclub owner, burlesque and adult-film producer, and chief executive of Club Madonna, died October 3, 2026, aged 94, in Miami.
Born Leroy Charles Griffith on March 26, 1932, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, he began working in theaters in 1949, selling popcorn at his father’s Strand Theater and serving as a projectionist, cashier and usher at local cinemas. His career continued through 2024, spanning the decline of burlesque and the growth of adult entertainment.
Griffith owned, leased or operated more than 70 theaters, cinemas and nightclubs across the United States. During burlesque’s heyday, he produced live stage shows featuring showgirls, strippers, comedians, vaudeville performers and other entertainers; his productions included Hello Burlesque and This Was Burlesque. He later produced and exhibited adult films and operated Miami-area clubs, including Club Madonna, Deja Vu and Wonderland. His work also included producing and directing Broadway and off-Broadway theater. Newspaper columnist Earl Wilson and others called him the “Burlesque King,” a nickname reflecting his long involvement in live stage entertainment. Griffith’s career encompassed theaters, nightclubs and productions that bridged burlesque and adult entertainment.